Chapter 101

Grace

Eason's voice was a low, soothing murmur in my ear as he fed me line after line.

"We find ourselves in challenging times with a heavy heart. We are so distant from the Mooncrest of our past. We have changed since the time of Mooncrest's establishment. We have changed since even my father stood here and addressed the city for the last time. And I..." I paused, waiting for Eason to give me the next part. "I have changed since I first took the position of alpha. Many will say that the decisions I have made have led us here, and perhaps they are right. I chose to run from this position. I chose to bury my head in the sand and wallow in my grief, and for that, I am sorry."

I swallowed as people in the crowd looked at me as if I was crazy.

"I am sorry that I have forgotten that not only did I lose a father, we lost a great leader, and in forgetting that, I forgot you. I forgot how much the Wolfe name has meant to so many lives for so many years: hope, change, progress, the refusal to be stifled, stopped, or cowed. I forgot, and I see that in forgetting that, in forgetting you and the legacy of the Wolfe family, I have done not just us but the entire werewolf world a disservice. I am sorry. And that time is over.

"In these few months, I have faced my mistakes and worked every day to correct them, to learn from them, to remember the future the Wolfe family has always striven for, one where tolerance is given. One where kindness is the norm and acceptance has no price. More than that, I have remembered what hope can mean. I have remembered that change is not the end of what we are but the beginning of what we could be. The"

beginning of being better than we were, better than we hoped, and better than we ever thought of ourselves." I took a deep breath as I knew the speech was starting to come to an end. No one had heckled me yet, so I was hoping that it would all turn out alright.

"I know we are all concerned about Blood Moon's threats. It's hatred and menace. The safety of our citizens is of the utmost importance, as are the values on which Mooncrest was built. We will not bow to the demands of those who seek to harm and change us. The Mooncrest Police, working hand in hand with the Lycan Enforcers, is committed to ensuring the safety of our community in these difficult times. I've implemented a curfew, and anyone found outside after those hours will be arrested and interrogated on suspicion of aiding Blood Moon. As the investigation against Blood Moon and any potentially incriminated parties progresses, I will make further statements, but for now, I ask that every citizen of Mooncrest be on alert. We have to stand together, or we will fall apart."

"Deep breath," Eason said. "Thank them, and get ready for questions."

My stomach jumped as I took a deep breath.

"Thank you all. I'll take your questions now."

I walked back inside what felt like hours later. My legs hurt. I swear I was going to hurl, and my heart was still racing. I was exhausted, but I couldn't sit down. Eason had been in my ear, feeding me questions and coaching me on who to answer and how, but it wasn't enough. I still felt like I had no idea what I was doing. As I paced within the grand corridors of City Hall, my mind was a whirlwind of doubt.

Would the protestors come back? How would Blood Moon react to my statement? Had I looked as terrified as I felt? I didn't dare go to my office to debrief with Eason and Amira just yet.

I couldn't help but wonder whether yielding to the demands of the protestors might make this chaos go away. It would be the easier path, the simpler path, but for who? Would I really end up running for the rest of my life or cut down without anyone noticing me? Would Charles even want me if I ran? Who would take care of Cecil and Richard if I ran? I stopped and looked up at the mural filled with portraits of every alpha who had come before me. There was space for at least fifty more on the wall. I walked to it and placed my hand beneath my father's portrait, smiling at me with a familiar gleam in his eyes.

Glancing out of the window, I could see the streets outside, still filled with people. Were they preparing to storm the Hall, maybe just waiting for the microphone system to start up again? As time ticked by, my anxiety only grew stronger, threatening to erode my resolve.

Then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking through my thoughts and causing me to jump slightly. I pulled it out and read the message from Charles.

You did well. Go upstairs and stop pacing.

My lips twitched. Could he see me? Could the people on the street see me, too? A faint smile touched my lips as I turned toward the elevator, just as it seemed to come down. It was empty. I entered and let myself relax against the cool wall.

The silence was deafening, but my thoughts were louder.

I could hear Eason's voice in my head as if he were still feeding me the lines of the speech. The door opened, and I walked down the hallway to the conference room. Eason was eating from a container of what looked like sorbet. The plate in front of him was smeared with sauce, and the scent of meat hung in the air. Amira was eating an ice cream cone and slumped in a chair on the other side of the table.

"Well?" I asked. "Was it enough?"

Eason cocked an eyebrow. "Enough what?"

"Enough of an apology."

Eason took another bite. "To whom?"

I flinched. "What do you mean by that?"

"Until you make it right," Eason said. "Really make it right, Grace. You're going to be apologizing to the citizens practically every time you get on television."

I scoffed. "That can't be how it works."

"It is," Eason said and gestured with his spoon. "You can't really think that speech was to Blood Moon."

I blinked. "It wasn't?"

"Of course not," Eason said. "You don't apologize to people who start fights with you."

I blinked, unsure of what to say.

"As for how it's been received, we have to wait a little longer," Eason said, eating another scoop. "Amira?"

"Fenris called," Amira said with a deep sigh. She held up a piece of paper. "You're not going to like it."

My heart sank. I had no desire to engage with Fenris or any more of his manipulative tactics.

"He's connected."

"Obviously," Eason said. "And he's not even hiding it... Not that he has to, considering he's related to the President."

I groaned. "You have to be kidding me."

"Nope."

I sighed and sank into a chair. "Between him and Jackson... this is never going to end."

"Not until you rip his throat out," Eason said off-handedly. "Literally or figuratively: dealer's choice."

I looked at him, surprised. When had Eason been bloodthirsty? Was that part of the changes Margaret mentioned? I thought about Charles' advice about being ruthless. Maybe I should take a page of Eason's book.

Still, I looked at the page in Amira's hand and wanted to do anything but read it.

I took it but placed it facedown on the table. My hands were still shaking.

"Am I really... doing the right thing?"

Eason said nothing for a moment. I looked up at him. He met my gaze.

"What do you think?"

"I'm asking for an opinion."

"So am I," Eason said.

I set my jaw. "Are you just testing me?"

"I'm asking you a question," Eason said.

I sat back, glaring at him. He was just being difficult because he could. Eason went back to looking at his computer. I looked down at the page in front of me. I didn't want to read it, but part of me knew I had to. Fenris' deal was a crap one, but it told me something.

It was supposed to, anyway, because Eason was right. Fenris wasn't hiding his connection to the President, and he wasn't hiding the fact that he was connected to this.

I couldn't take him to court with what I had, but it was enough to suspect.

So, what should I know?

Chess, I thought, hearing Charles' voice. Not checkers.

Having a stake in Wolfe Medical was obvious, but why try to get me to step down first? He knew it was in the patent stage, but what did he think was going to happen if I died unexpectedly?

I bit my lip and frowned. What would happen if I died unexpectedly?

I turned over the page.

How much longer can you hold out? I might be convinced for fifty percent.

Fifty percent of what?The market share? Of Wolfe Medical?

I set my jaw, glaring at the words.

"Social media speaks," Eason said softly. "Your apology and statement are being well-received."

I looked up at him. "You have an answer yet?"

"No."

He nodded. "At least you're thinking, I guess."

Amira sat forward, typing on her laptop with a smile. "The transfers in don't seem to be slowing down. That's a good sign, right?"

"Hopeful," I said softly. "And the transfer out."

She rolled her eyes. "Another uptick."

My shoulders slumped. I looked at Eason.

"Be straight with me, Eason."

He met my gaze. "I am."

"Eason--"

A knock at the door interrupted our discussion.

"Come in."